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Artist Nan Goldin​ takes on the billionaire family behind OxyContin

theguardian.com

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Re: Artist Nan Goldin​ takes on the billionaire family behind OxyContin

#11

Post by beat »

kjgkjhfkjf wrote: post #10

I don't think it is appropriate to blame doctors in the US for this. She was initially prescribed the drug in Berlin. The article mentions that she was in a high-risk group that should not be prescribed the drug, but it is likely that the European doctor was legitimately unaware of that. "When, back in New York, doctors refused to supply her any more, she turned to the black market, and to cheaper hard street drugs w…

I don't think you quite understand how drug addiction works. It's not a simple matter of "take responsibility". Particularly since she didn't set out to be a drug addict - she was prescribed a painkiller, and took it by prescription. That has happened to rather a lot of people.

Re: Artist Nan Goldin​ takes on the billionaire family behind OxyContin

#13

Post by civilitty »

kjgkjhfkjf wrote: post #10

I don't think it is appropriate to blame doctors in the US for this. She was initially prescribed the drug in Berlin. The article mentions that she was in a high-risk group that should not be prescribed the drug, but it is likely that the European doctor was legitimately unaware of that. "When, back in New York, doctors refused to supply her any more, she turned to the black market, and to cheaper hard street drugs w…

Purdue misled doctors on the effectiveness of the recommended dosages in a way that essentially maximized the addictiveness of their drug in a clinical setting, globally. Instead of telling doctors to prescribe a more frequent dose, they told them to prescribe a larger dose less often which causes more severe withdrawals and has a higher chance of leading to physiological dependence.

Doctors the world over were legitimately unaware of the risks because the manufacturer misled them.

Re: Artist Nan Goldin​ takes on the billionaire family behind OxyContin

#14

Post by refurb »

09bjb wrote: post #9
rdruxn wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because at the end of the day, they still work and truly do help a vast number of people.

"Really work" in this case meaning probable addiction and potential death in exchange for a month or two of pain relief. If it "really worked" as advertised (maximum of one dose needed per 12 hours) we wouldn't have this problem at all. OxyContin's much-marketed delayed release mechanism is BS and it's costing thousands of lives and livelihoods.

That's highly inaccurate. Opioids are the most prescribed drug in the US. The vast majority never become addicted.

And if you have an issue with the 12 hour dosing of Oxycontin, take it up with the FDA. They approved it.

Re: Artist Nan Goldin​ takes on the billionaire family behind OxyContin

#15

Post by efitz »

09bjb wrote: post #9
rdruxn wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because at the end of the day, they still work and truly do help a vast number of people.

"Really work" in this case meaning probable addiction and potential death in exchange for a month or two of pain relief. If it "really worked" as advertised (maximum of one dose needed per 12 hours) we wouldn't have this problem at all. OxyContin's much-marketed delayed release mechanism is BS and it's costing thousands of lives and livelihoods.

I had surgery in 2011 and was prescribed OxyContin for post-operative pain.

I was very satisfied with the therapy as I had very little post-operative discomfort.

I took the medicine for several days, the prescription ran out, and I felt no incentive to request a refill nor did I turn to street drugs.

I am truly sorry for people that struggle with addiction. I have family members who struggle with that and I know the devastation that it causes.

However, I do not want the government to eliminate an effective class of medications, either through banning them or through scaring doctors into not using them.

Re: Artist Nan Goldin​ takes on the billionaire family behind OxyContin

#16

Post by nostromo »

Stop this insane vilification of opioids.

This is turning into another moral panic; yet another iteration of the never ending war on drugs. We keep doing this: from prohibition of alcohol to banning pot and psychedelics. It doesn't work.

Opioids are incredibly useful. Vilifying people for providing a pain-relieving medication because they are sometimes misused is disgraceful.

Re: Artist Nan Goldin​ takes on the billionaire family behind OxyContin

#17

Post by wickawic »

kjgkjhfkjf wrote: post #10

I don't think it is appropriate to blame doctors in the US for this. She was initially prescribed the drug in Berlin. The article mentions that she was in a high-risk group that should not be prescribed the drug, but it is likely that the European doctor was legitimately unaware of that. "When, back in New York, doctors refused to supply her any more, she turned to the black market, and to cheaper hard street drugs w…

Drug addiction is so bad because drugs fuck with your priorities at a very basic level. Asking someone to give up a heroin addiction is kind of like asking you to abandon your children. Sure it is physically possible to do it (not even that hard, really!) but if you have kids you know how impossible that would feel.

And when you are off them, you still feel that affinity, just as you would forever miss your kids.

Re: Artist Nan Goldin​ takes on the billionaire family behind OxyContin

#18

Post by jgalt212 »

nostromo wrote: post #16

Stop this insane vilification of opioids. This is turning into another moral panic; yet another iteration of the never ending war on drugs. We keep doing this: from prohibition of alcohol to banning pot and psychedelics. It doesn't work. Opioids are incredibly useful. Vilifying people for providing a pain-relieving medication because they are sometimes misused is disgraceful.

Don't you know people can't be trusted? e.g. compulsory seat belt use laws.

Re: Artist Nan Goldin​ takes on the billionaire family behind OxyContin

#20

Post by rubicon33 »

beat wrote: post #11
kjgkjhfkjf wrote: post #10

I don't think it is appropriate to blame doctors in the US for this. She was initially prescribed the drug in Berlin. The article mentions that she was in a high-risk group that should not be prescribed the drug, but it is likely that the European doctor was legitimately unaware of that. "When, back in New York, doctors refused to supply her any more, she turned to the black market, and to cheaper hard street drugs w…

I don't think you quite understand how drug addiction works. It's not a simple matter of "take responsibility". Particularly since she didn't set out to be a drug addict - she was prescribed a painkiller, and took it by prescription. That has happened to rather a lot of people.

I hate this response. It's such a classic copout and one that attempts to completely nullify any argument for personal responsibility. We just don't "understand" how drug addiction works. Right.

How have some people come to believe that simply being prescribed these medications and taking them as prescribed STRIPS the patient of mental faculty to notice a problem, and renders them utterly dependent and hopeless? That's just not the case, at all. There's plenty of information available to patients about the risk of dependency and many choose to avoid it because, well, it feels good.

I know some addicts. Those that are clean today are clean because (in addition to many other proactive steps) they recognized that it WAS within their power to stop. They admit and recognized that they ABUSED the medication willingly, and despite sobriety being very difficult, is still a choice they can make.

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